Anyone have a week that just seems to be grinding along? I am ready for some good news. I am ready for reasons to cheer!

Like the story of the autistic barista who had his tip jar stolen, and the community rallied around him and brought in $900 in tips the next day.

Or the group of North Texas dads who raised money and purchased a new car for the school crossing guard whose car broke down and she could no longer afford Lyft rides or public transportation.

One more: the San Francisco teen brothers who are collecting and redistributing school uniforms to low-income families, saving $140,000 for 1400 families.

Those are reasons to cheer – here is another one – Palm Sunday!

Palm Sunday is a day full of energy and celebration. Crowds gathered, voices lifted, and anticipation filled the air as Jesus entered Jerusalem. It looked like a victory parade. People laid down their cloaks, waved palm branches, and shouted, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

But beneath the excitement was a deeper question: Did they really understand who they were cheering for?

As we read Mark 11:1–11, we see a diverse crowd. There were disciples who had followed Jesus closely, people who had witnessed miracles like the raising of Lazarus, curious onlookers hoping to see something spectacular, and religious leaders watching from the edges. They all joined in the celebration—but not all for the same reasons.

Some cheered because of what they had seen Jesus do. Others cheered because of what they hoped He would do. Many expected a political king—someone who would overthrow Roman rule and restore Israel’s power. Even the disciples likely thought, “This is it. Now He will establish His kingdom.”

But no one in that crowd could see what was coming just five days later. The same city that shouted “Hosanna!” would soon cry out, “Crucify Him!”

Why the shift? Because their expectations didn’t match God’s plan. They saw part of who Jesus was—but not the whole picture.

And if we’re honest, we can do the same.

We may celebrate Jesus when life is going well, when prayers are answered the way we hope, or when He seems to be working in ways we understand. But what happens when He doesn’t meet our expectations? When His timing feels off? When His plans don’t match ours?

Palm Sunday invites us to ask a personal question: Why do I cheer for Jesus?

The truth is, Jesus is far more than what the crowd imagined.

He is Prophet—not just a messenger of God, but the very Word of God. He doesn’t just speak truth; He is truth. When we look at Jesus, we see God fully revealed.

And He is Priest—the one who offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for our sins. He didn’t just come to save from oppression; He came to save from sin. Even now, He intercedes for us, bringing us into the very presence of God.

He is King—but not just of nations or politics. He reigns over hearts and lives. His kingdom is not built on earthly power but on spiritual transformation. He rules with authority over all things, seen and unseen.

The crowd on that first Palm Sunday missed much of this. Their limited view led to misplaced expectations—and ultimately, deep disappointment.

But we don’t have to miss it.

As we move toward Resurrection Sunday, we’re invited to see Jesus more clearly—to embrace Him not just for what we want Him to be, but for who He truly is.

So again, the question stands:

What are you cheering for?

Because the more clearly we see Jesus—our Prophet, Priest and King —the deeper and more meaningful our praise will be.